The Island of Kwale appears to have been the only Swahili town in the area at the time Ibn Majid wrote his book in the 15th century for import-export.

[4] The island has a 300-hectare (741-acre) mangrove forest, and the nearby marine waters of the Mafia Channel are a well-known ecological hotspot.

[5] An initiative to improve the management of coastal and marine resources is being launched by the regional organisations like Action for Conservation, Research and Development in Africa and Umoja wa Wavuvi Wadogo Wadogo Dar es Salaam (Artisanal fishermen of Dar es Salaam).

As payment, Seacology will build a 600 cubic metre (158,503 gallon) cistern to collect rainwater and store it for the dry season.

Additionally, Seacology will provide funding for conservation-related initiatives including mangrove restoration and protected area designation.